US says it is not mediating between Blackberry maker and India

India has asked the smartphone vendor to provide access to some of mobile messaging services or face ban in that country.

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PTI

Washington

August 14, 2010

UPDATED: August 14, 2010 23:11 IST

The US has said it is not mediating between the Blackberry maker RIM and India, which has asked the smartphone vendor to provide access to some of mobile messaging services or face ban in that country.

"While we have been in touch with our foreign partners, this is a matter for Research in Motion (RIM) to work out directly with Indian officials," the State Department said in a statement in response to a question if the US is mediating on the Blackberry dispute.

With several countries including India, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia threatening to stall Blackberry services in their countries because of similar concerns, the State Department official this week met RIM officials to discuss the issue.

The State Department officials have also been in touch with these countries to understand their security concerns.

The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, last week had termed the security concerns of these countries as legitimate.

"We are taking time to consult and analyse the full range of interests and issues at stake because we know that there is a legitimate security concern, but there's also a legitimate right of free use and access.

So, I think we will be pursuing both technical and expert discussions as we go forward," Clinton said.

India has threatened to shut down BlackBerry e-mail and instant messaging services by August 31, unless RIM granted security agencies the technology to decrypt BlackBerry communications, citing national security concerns.

A three-member delegation of RIM led by Vice-President Robert E Crowe on Friday met Home Secretary G K Pillai to discuss the government's notice.

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